Word
layer
Phoneticslay·er, stress on the first syllable
/ˈɫeɪɝ/
Definitions
01a thickness of material
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a single thickness of something that covers a surface or sits between other things.
n. a single thickness of a substance or material covering a surface or forming one of several levels in a stack.
日本語:層※
“The cake had a thick layer of chocolate cream in the middle.”
“Archaeologists carefully removed the top layer of sediment to reveal the well-preserved stone foundations of the Roman villa.”
02a level in a system
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing Academic · Technical
n. one part or level of a complex system or idea.
n. a distinct level within a hierarchical structure, such as a software architecture or a social system.
“The security system has several layers to protect your personal data.”
“In the OSI model, the transport layer is responsible for end-to-end communication and error recovery between hosts.”
03an egg-laying animal
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical
n. a bird or insect that is kept for the eggs it produces.
n. a mature female animal, particularly a domestic fowl, kept specifically for egg production.
“The farmer kept a hundred layers to supply the local market with fresh eggs.”
“The productivity of the layers began to decline as the winter days grew shorter and the temperature in the coop dropped.”
04to arrange in levels
B1 · Intermediate
v. to put one thing on top of another in levels.
v. to arrange or form something in distinct thicknesses or tiers.
“You should layer the vegetables in the dish before adding the sauce.”
“The gardener recommended layering the compost with straw to ensure proper aeration during the decomposition process.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “layer” in context.
Verb
01. add layer
“You can add another layer of paint once the first one is dry.”
verb + noun
02. layer covers
“A thick layer of dust covers all the old furniture in the attic.”
noun + verb
03. layer forms
“A layer of ice forms on the lake during the winter months.”
noun + verb
04. peel layer
“He began to peel the layer of old wallpaper off the wall.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. outer layer
“The outer layer of the skin protects the body from infection.”
adj + noun
06. protective layer
“The wax acts as a protective layer against moisture.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. layer of clothing
“In cold weather, it is better to wear several layers of clothing.”
noun + prep + noun
08. layer of dust
“There was a thick layer of dust on the bookshelf.”
noun + prep + noun
09. layers including insulation
10. add a new layer of
“The new evidence adds a new layer of complexity to the case.”
11. arranged in layers
“The sedimentary rocks were clearly arranged in layers.”
12. peel back the layers
“The documentary tries to peel back the layers of the politician's private life.”
Etymology
Appears at first glance to be from Middle English leyer, leyare (“a layer of stones or bricks”), equivalent to lay + -er. In which case, ultimately identical to etymology 2 below. For the pronunciation compare prayer. However, this word layer (referring to a thickness of a material covering a surface) has also been argued to be from a respelling of an obsolete sense of the word lair that was once used by farmers, which had to do with soil. The connecting sense between the usual meaning of lair and the specialised farming meaning was: an area where cows typically rest, the ground being fertilised by their waste. Related to lie, ledger.
From lay + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/layer
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0